The multi-talented Hans Reichel, 1949-2011
November 23, 2011 5:57 PM Subscribe
Hans Reichel, of Wuppertal, Germany, maker of exquisitely beautiful guitars, on which he made exquisitely beautiful and idiosyncratic music, inventor of the delightfully expressive daxophone, on which he made delightfully expressive and often humorous music, creator of elegant fonts and architect of one of the most endearingly creative flash websites you'll ever see, has died at the age of 62.
My second Metafilter post, back in 2006, was on Hans Reichel, and it didn't get a lot of notice at the time: a small reflection, I suppose, of the fact that Hans has not as yet received the wider attention that his work so greatly deserves. Hopefully this post will lead a few more people in the direction of this amazing artist's work.
I'd like to just add that Hans' flash website is something that requires a bit of time, so your exploration of it should be reserved for a time when you... have some time! But there's a lot of great (often very funny) stuff there to learn about, do and explore. Highly recommended, but not for those in a hurry.
RIP, Hans Reichel.
My second Metafilter post, back in 2006, was on Hans Reichel, and it didn't get a lot of notice at the time: a small reflection, I suppose, of the fact that Hans has not as yet received the wider attention that his work so greatly deserves. Hopefully this post will lead a few more people in the direction of this amazing artist's work.
I'd like to just add that Hans' flash website is something that requires a bit of time, so your exploration of it should be reserved for a time when you... have some time! But there's a lot of great (often very funny) stuff there to learn about, do and explore. Highly recommended, but not for those in a hurry.
RIP, Hans Reichel.
He would have deserved an obit post for his daxophone alone. Amazing sound -- it's like dolls and duck-calls came to life and began singing together. Thanks for this.
posted by Countess Elena at 6:04 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by Countess Elena at 6:04 PM on November 23, 2011
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Damn. Reichel was a genius, and clearly had a lot of fun doing what he did. The daxophone is just such a delightful instrument, making everything from deep rumbles to shrill shrieks, and a midrange which can really only be safely described as the sound of elves pooing.
posted by scruss at 6:54 PM on November 23, 2011
Damn. Reichel was a genius, and clearly had a lot of fun doing what he did. The daxophone is just such a delightful instrument, making everything from deep rumbles to shrill shrieks, and a midrange which can really only be safely described as the sound of elves pooing.
posted by scruss at 6:54 PM on November 23, 2011
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posted by safetyfork at 7:06 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by safetyfork at 7:06 PM on November 23, 2011
The FF Dax, yeah. I did more than a few works with it.
Vielen Danke, herr Reichel.
posted by _dario at 7:07 PM on November 23, 2011
Vielen Danke, herr Reichel.
posted by _dario at 7:07 PM on November 23, 2011
His website makes a joyful noise, as does his sensibility. He seems like an incredibly creative happy force of imagination.
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posted by Skygazer at 7:09 PM on November 23, 2011
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posted by Skygazer at 7:09 PM on November 23, 2011
FUCK. I was excited to see a post about him and now I feel sick. I always entertained the idea that I might meet him.
posted by kingv at 7:14 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by kingv at 7:14 PM on November 23, 2011
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posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:18 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:18 PM on November 23, 2011
Nooo! Can't be true... Hans Reichel was the bees knees!
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posted by quazichimp at 8:14 PM on November 23, 2011
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posted by quazichimp at 8:14 PM on November 23, 2011
. Very sad indeed. Musical pioneers are not that easy to come by.
posted by LucretiusJones at 8:21 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by LucretiusJones at 8:21 PM on November 23, 2011
Well. A creative guy, and one of the 10% of musicians who think humor is healthy in music. Sorry he's not with us, but I hope his music lives on.
posted by kozad at 8:39 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by kozad at 8:39 PM on November 23, 2011
Motian too!...ahhhhgg...
OK, thats enough for a while.
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posted by quazichimp at 10:56 PM on November 23, 2011
OK, thats enough for a while.
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posted by quazichimp at 10:56 PM on November 23, 2011
Obituary (in German) from Westdeutsche Zeitung.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:47 PM on November 23, 2011
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:47 PM on November 23, 2011
That sound-mix board flash game is hilarious!
Saw a Lussier/Derome concert many years ago, and everyone was saying: "Does that look like a duck's head?"
posted by ovvl at 4:53 PM on November 24, 2011
Saw a Lussier/Derome concert many years ago, and everyone was saying: "Does that look like a duck's head?"
posted by ovvl at 4:53 PM on November 24, 2011
Ten minutes of rare (it seems) footage of Reichel performing on the daxophone as well as two of the guitars he's built.
One arched eyebrow and a slowly growing smile at the end of the set is all his face expresses. Everything he did was with a playful heart, even when it doesn't seem like it at first, and the honking and clanging becomes charming after a while.
posted by ardgedee at 7:55 PM on November 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
One arched eyebrow and a slowly growing smile at the end of the set is all his face expresses. Everything he did was with a playful heart, even when it doesn't seem like it at first, and the honking and clanging becomes charming after a while.
posted by ardgedee at 7:55 PM on November 24, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just wow. How have I never heard of this guy? Or the marvel that is FF Routes? Thanks so much for this post.
posted by freya_lamb at 3:15 PM on November 25, 2011
posted by freya_lamb at 3:15 PM on November 25, 2011
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Sad day. Reichel was a truly unique musicmaker.
posted by 2N2222 at 6:01 PM on November 23, 2011